[MancladLA]

We can all see the big changes for the 2023 X7. However, there seem to be some smaller fives and takes…

Gives
- M60 steering now has M stitching and the bottom spoke seems to have a cut out
- the trim on the back of the front seats now has actual trim vs black plastic

Takes
- the lock buttons on the front door panels are now black plastic vs aluminum
- the wide angle camera button near the gear selector is gone and is now just a blank


Anyone spotting anymore smaller gives and takes

[Jennifer]

Do you have a picture of wide angle camera button near the gear selector?

[MancladLA]

You can see it in this picture - it’s the second button from the top. In the 2023 x7 it seems to be a blank.

[MancladLA]

Where the wide angle camera button was is now a blank

[Jennifer]

thank you very much for the pictures.

[MancladLA]

I wonder if the access to the wide angle camera control was just moved to the touch screen. I also now see the button for the auto/start stop has also gone.

[Billyblonco]

Also the rear doors lost it's comfort access feature which means only the front Door handles will recognize when you attempt to open the door.

[Jennifer]

Please send a picture of the rear doors' comfort access feature.

[MancladLA]

The really odd one to me is the lock switches. These were a nice aluminum finish which matched the handles

[MancladLA]

Now they are cheap black plastic. This seems like a cheap penny pinch.

[xlover]

Originally Posted by Jennifer

Please send a picture of the rear doors' comfort access feature.

Lol the door handles are the same just when you touch them nothing happens, previous version they had comfort access sensors to lock and unlock the car

[BMW5and7]

Originally Posted by MancladLA

We can all see the big changes for the 2023 X7. However, there seem to be some smaller fives and takes…

Gives
- M60 steering now has M stitching and the bottom spoke seems to have a cut out
- the trim on the back of the front seats now has actual trim vs black plastic

Takes
- the lock buttons on the front door panels are now black plastic vs aluminum
- the wide angle camera button near the gear selector is gone and is now just a blank


Anyone spotting anymore smaller gives and takes

I thought it would be easier to keep a running list, and hence I updated yours with what I know. of course as you indicating, this is meant to only highlight anything other than big changes that are obvious or we all know (i.e.: not mentioning the obvious gear removal, AC physical buttons front hood, tail light, etc).

Gives
- M60 steering now has M stitching and the bottom spoke seems to have a cut out
- the trim on the back of the front seats now has actual trim vs black plastic

Takes
- the lock buttons on the front door panels are now black plastic vs aluminum
- the wide angle camera button near the gear selector is gone and is now just a blank
- The distance auto-adjust between you and front vehicle is removed and moved from the steering wheel.
- The audio station/song change/forward/backward is now moved from the very right side of the central console under the AC to the left side just next to the audio level knob (this makes it harder and not as accessible for passenger to switch songs)
- Dynamic driving mode button is no longer available next to the gear selector

[Venomm]

Originally Posted by MancladLA

- the wide angle camera button near the gear selector is gone and is now just a blank

The button has indeed been removed but the feature is available on the screen now. You will see the same icon as on the missing button on the screen when the rear view camera is engaged - its called "Panorama View".

[BMW5and7]

Originally Posted by MancladLA

The really odd one to me is the lock switches. These were a nice aluminum finish which matched the handles

Originally Posted by MancladLA

Now they are cheap black plastic. This seems like a cheap penny pinch.

I never noticed that until you mentioned it as I didn't take a deep look into the interior. Yeah, I agree. This is actually very odd and out of character for BMW. Historically, the metallic-finish buttons has aways been a luxury signature that is exclusive for the 7-series and X7. You can also see some 5-series or X5 owners buying similar metallic finished trim/buttons for their vehicles whenever they work on both vehicles - like the AC buttons.

The new plastic black buttons in the LCI X7 are exactly the same ones we see now in the 2019-2022 X5. In fact, they are taken from the 2019-2022 X5 based on how they look; so at least we know where these came from, but I find it interesting that they down-graded from an exclusive 7-series level trend to the ones used in the older 5-series and X5. I understand some of the design language changes, but to take some trim pieces from a lower level vehicle to a newer X7 is puzzling. Should have at least maintained the pre-lci ones if not even upgrading more trim pieces to metal-like- finish.

Here is a photo I have from a 2019 X5, showing the same black plastic buttons.

[Jennifer]

I know some of you want to find something here, but really not a big deal to me.

[skids929]

MUCH less ambient lighting in the first row..Doesn't look as cohesive across the dash and the X7 logo is the feature show. I will reserve my opinion on it, but there is definitely much less ambient lighting inside the interior.

[MancladLA]

Originally Posted by Venomm

The button has indeed been removed but the feature is available on the screen now. You will see the same icon as on the missing button on the screen when the rear view camera is engaged - its called "Panorama View".

Thanks - I find this removing all physical buttons a strange trend that I think will reverse. Some manufacturers are already adding buttons back! The programmable buttons have also gone.

I do like the M stitching on the wheel though.

[M3JHWK]

Originally Posted by MancladLA

Where the wide angle camera button was is now a blank

What matte wood trim is this?? And the lock/unlock button thing is such a cheap move on BMW's part. I might look into retrofitting the metal ones when ours arrives.

[MancladLA]

Originally Posted by BMW5and7

I thought it would be easier to keep a running list, and hence I updated yours with what I know. of course as you indicating, this is meant to only highlight anything other than big changes that are obvious or we all know (i.e.: not mentioning the obvious gear removal, AC physical buttons front hood, tail light, etc).

Gives
- M60 steering now has M stitching and the bottom spoke seems to have a cut out
- the trim on the back of the front seats now has actual trim vs black plastic

Takes
- the lock buttons on the front door panels are now black plastic vs aluminum
- the wide angle camera button near the gear selector is gone and is now just a blank
- The distance auto-adjust between you and front vehicle is removed and moved from the steering wheel.
- The audio station/song change/forward/backward is now moved from the very right side of the central console under the AC to the left side just next to the audio level knob (this makes it harder and not as accessible for passenger to switch songs)
- Dynamic driving mode button is no longer available next to the gear selector

I had not noticed the Driving Mode button had gone - they have moved the hill descent to that spot and where the hill descent was is blank and the button with that takes you to the App screen (although I don’t use this one) seems to be blank - why not just leave them as buttons that can be used as well as moving the function to the screen as it would have meant less blanks which always looks like something is missing.

[MancladLA]

Originally Posted by M3JHWK

What matte wood trim is this?? And the lock/unlock button thing is such a cheap move on BMW's part. I might look into retrofitting the metal ones when ours arrives.

That’s just a grab pictures from a website. The lock thing is odd as they have added nice trim to the back of the front seats - which I wonder if it would fit in my 22 X50.

They do make odd decisions - like making all the trim in the 3rd row piano black which doesn’t match unless you order piano black.

[Jennifer]

I feel you guys are just complaining about nothing here because BMW announced that they removed several buttons. This is a new design trend.

If feel the 2023 X7 is a super luxury SUV, but you really need these buttons, you may ask BMW or a third party to install them or order something from Amazon, so you feel more luxurious!

[MancladLA]

Originally Posted by Jennifer

I feel you guys are just complaining for nothing here because I found two 2022 X7s with black buttons and no camera access button.

I can send you several links but check for yourself. Many of these items are already dropped in the 2022 model!

I have a 2022 X7 M50 and it definitely has silver buttons and the other features.

Not complaining just asking what other little changes have been made.

Like I said - I like the new M steering wheel and the trim on the back seats. If there are other small additions that would also be interesting to know - and yes BMW did make odd feature deletions on other X7 model years - there is a whole thread on that.